PRESS RELEASE: September 9, 2008 For Immediate Release

MEDIA CONTACT:
Beverly Crowl, Public Relations Specialist
Telephone: 302 547 1816
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Delaware Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, Judy Knutstad, (left) and President and C.E.O., Susan Lloyd, MSN, RN, (right) present the 25 year volunteer service award to Jeanne Buckworth.

Jeanne Buckworth of Odessa received the prestigious 25 year service award at Delaware Hospice’s volunteer recognition dinner this year.

When Jeanne got involved in 1983, Delaware Hospice had just been founded. She drove from Odessa to Wilmington because the Dover office was not yet in existence. Jeanne said, “I covered a lot of territory then as the only volunteer below the bridge.”

Thinking back, she wished she had kept a journal. “I have no idea how many patients and families I’ve visited in the past 25 years. And everyone is different. Some people really need a lot of help, visits, or friendship, while others don’t. I’ve developed some wonderful relationships with people. They talk about their lives and tell their stories, and they appreciate the chance to reminisce.”

“One of my most memorable experiences was with the daughter of a young woman who had cancer. She was quite devastated by her mother’s death. I kept contact for more than a year; then didn’t see her for a long time until one day I received an invitation to her high school graduation! And then, I got an invitation to her wedding some time later; and I was just recently invited to her baby shower. What an honor to be remembered after all those years!”

“I’ve also received wonderful letters from family members. Well, you don’t volunteer for that reason, but it’s so touching when you get such a reward.”

Jeanne has watched Delaware Hospice evolve over the years with a sense of pride. She credits the amazing growth of the organization with its reputation. She said, “People find only superlatives to describe their care team, be it the nurse, nurse’s aide, social worker, chaplain or the office staff.”

Hospice volunteer work, combined with her strong faith, has had a positive impact on Jeanne’s life. “I try to live more in the present. I believe we should make every day special and cherish it. Don’t dwell on the bad, but make the most of everything you can and appreciate your blessings.”

Delaware Hospice has served patients and families in Delaware as the only non-profit hospice in Delaware for twenty-six years. The organization warmly welcomes individuals who are seeking a particularly fulfilling and worthwhile volunteer experience.

Delaware Hospice offers orientation and training to new volunteers, who will also benefit from valuable healthcare information. In addition to patient and family home care support, you might choose to volunteer in the offices or to help organize one of the many fundraising events.

Statewide Volunteer Training Scheduled:
Delaware Hospice’s Kent County Volunteer Training will take place on Saturday, October 18th, and Saturday, October 25th, from 8:30 – 4:00 p.m., at the Delaware Hospice Office in Dover, 911 S. DuPont Hwy. Registration is required. To register or learn more, call Judy Knutstad, Volunteer Coordinator, at 678-4448, ext. 2117.

Delaware Hospice’s New Castle County Volunteer Training will take place on Wednesday evenings, from October 8th to December 3rd, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in the Wilmington office, 3515 Silverside Road. Registration is required. To register or learn more, call Jessica Whitehead, Volunteer Coordinator, at 478-5707, ext. 1105.

Delaware Hospice’s Sussex County Volunteer Training will take place on Thursday, October 16th, from 8:30 – 4:00 p.m., at the Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford. Registration is required. To register or learn more, call Mary Costello, Volunteer Coordinator, at 855-2344, ext. 4120.

By Beverly Crowl, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About Delaware Hospice
Since 1982, Delaware Hospice has provided exceptional care and support to 30,000 patients and their families. Its mission is to help each patient, each day, live the fullest, most comfortable life possible. Delaware Hospice is the largest and only licensed, nonprofit, community-based hospice serving New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware and southern Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania. For more information about Delaware Hospice’s programs and services, upcoming events, or employment opportunities, call 800-838-9800 or visit our website, www.delawarehospice.org